Your backyard offers the ideal place to spend time outside. However, if you're planning on getting plenty of use out of your backyard, you should make sure it doesn't have hazards that could be harmful to you and your household, including your pets. Here are a few ways you can make your backyard a safer place:
If your yard doesn't have a fence, consider installing one. A fenced-in yard provides a safer environment for kids and pets, since it can stop them from running into the street or wandering away and getting lost. Putting a fence around your backyard can also stop wildlife and other people's pets from getting onto your property. Make sure you install a sturdy fence with a self-latching gate for added safety.
A backyard that's only filled with grass shouldn't be much of a safety problem, but watch out for plants that could be toxic to people or pets. Search your yard for any vegetation, including weeds, that are considered hazardous or toxic when ingested. Eliminate other plant hazards from your yard too, such as poison ivy or poison oak.
Wasps, fire ants and other pests can make your backyard a dangerous place. Check for fire ant mounds, wasp and hornet nests and other potential pest problems in your yard. If you're not sure how to handle these safely, you should hire pest control professionals. Eliminating these dangers from your yard helps make it a safe place for everyone in your home.
Grills can be a hazard for kids and pets, but that doesn't mean you can't have one in your backyard. Set up a grilling area that's far enough away from any play areas, so kids won't wander close to the grill. Store matches, lighter fluid and other flammable items in a secure place that kids and pets can't reach.
Tree limbs can seriously injure people and pets when they fall. Check the trees in your yard for dead or decaying limbs that need to be removed. Getting rid of these hazards helps reduce the risk of severe injuries from falling tree limbs.
Nicolette is a full-time licensed real estate agent working with residential and commercial buyers, sellers, and renters. Growing up in Eastchester, graduating from Marist College and branching out to Manhattan before returning to her roots has created deep ties to Westchester while understanding what a NYC buyer wants when relocating to the suburbs.
Bringing nearly a decade of extensive experience in sales, interior design, marketing, and customer service from her Manhattan career while working with esteemed companies such as Elle Décor Magazine and various companies under the Herman Miller brand, Nicolette encompasses an effective fusion of suburban warmth and city tenacity. Her enthusiasm for helping others combined with her determination to close deals helps her simultaneously connect her with clients on a personal level while conducting business in the most professional of ways. It’s this connection that leads to a seamless and successful Real Estate transaction.
When not working, Nicolette enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and puppy. Professionally, she prides herself using those same personal values of loyalty, honesty, attentiveness, and being detail-oriented. She values all client relationships and makes it her goal to provide exceptional service and guaranteed satisfaction. Her intimate knowledge of the area, having lived in Westchester all her life, gives her enthusiasm and a desire to make her home, your home.
In July 2015, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services (BHHS) acquired Tri-Crest Realty and Prudential Centennial Realty and has been one of the most successful offices in lower Westchester County since 2000. With over 1,800 Realtors in 55 offices in the Northeast and 51,600 agents in 1,600 offices in 47 states nationally, BHHS is the #2 company in Barron’s ranking of the world’s most respected companies; ranking #3 in Fortune Magazine’s 50 Most Admired Companies survey.